V-shaped expansible harrow



y 1951 c. R. BROCK 2,559,002

V-SHAPED EXPANSIBLE HARROW Filed Oct. 3, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Charles R. Brock B] 3 -Msew July 3, 1951 c. R. BROCK V-SHAPED EXPANSIBLE HARROW 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1947 Inventor Charles R. Brock C. R. BROCK V-SHAPED EXPANSIBLE HARROW July 3, 1951 Filed Oct: 3, 1947 s sheets-sheet s Inventor Charles R. Broqk mm cw w mm Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v- SHAPED EXPANSIBLE HARROW Charles R. Brock, Fairbury, Ill., assignor of twenty-five per cent to Seymour F. Dolgin,

Fairbury, Ill.

7 Claims.

This invention appertains to novel and useful improvements in farm implements, particularly in attachments adapted to be driven or motivated by a suitable prime mover.

An object of this invention is to spreadingly support a plurality of harrows, cultivators, or the like for operations upon the soil.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide means for adiustably supporting the said cultivator means.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for selectively raising and lowering the cultivator means.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide improved means for locking said cultivator means in selected elevated or lowered positions.

.A still further object of this invention is to pro vide means for carrying out the above mentioned function in a single operation.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which may be readily'and easily opened to the working position without the necessity of lifting heavy elements or folding pertinent portions of the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extremely simple device of the character described which is smoothly operative.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred form of the present invention, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the invention shown in Figure 1, showing the same in a second operative position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the invention shown in Figure 2 and taken on the line 33 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the sleeve and other pertinent mechanism forming a portion of the invention;

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the dept control and locking means therefor;

Figure 6 is a side View of the detail of construction shown in Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is an enlarged sectional View illustrating detail of construction taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

This invention has been conceived and developed to provide a device for more efiicaciously cultivating land. Various agricultural operations may be formed by utility of the present invention such as raking, plowing, levelling, andthe like.

The operative embodiment of the present invention illustrated herewith is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a prime mover such as a tractor, team of horses, etc. Devices for performing the function of the present invention are usually cumbersome and, if adjustable,'require heavy lifting and numerous manipulations. As the description of the invention proceeds, the ease of operation thereof will become manifest.

A sleeve ill is provided with a reduced end l2 having an aperture l4 therein which is adapted to be secured to a suitable prime mover such as a tractor or the like. Slidably received in the said sleeve H! is a bar l6 having a tie rod l8 secured thereto. 7

A pair of identical collars 20 and 22, respectively, are slidably received on the said sleeve Ill. It will be noted at this point (see Fig. 2) that the invention disclosed herewith is symmetrical, and accordingly only one-half thereof will be described in detail, which will, of necessity, lead to a clear understandingof the structure of the other half.

A pair of links 24 and 25, respectively, are pivoted to the said collars 20 and 22 and an arm 28 is pivoted at its ends to the terminal portions of said pair of links.

The arm 28 is fixed to the side member 30 which is, in turn, pivoted at one end to the end of said tie rod l8. Inspection of Figure 2 will clearly disclose a second side member 32 similar to the side member 30 which is also pivoted to the said tie rod It. This last-mentioned member 32 is, however, spaced from the side member 38.

At spaced intervals along the length of the side members at and 32 are additional tie rods 34 and 36, which are of pitman construction. It is clearly evident from an inspection of Figure 2 that as the said collars 22 and 20 are slid along the sleeve til the said side members 30 and 32 will be pivoted about their respective pins on the said tie rod l8. Since there are two identical structures disclosed herewith, the mechanism pertinent to the side members 30 and 32 andthe identical members in the symmetrical construction will be separated in a fashion similar to an A frame.

Going now to-Figure 4, it will be seen that apertures 38 and 40 are provided in the sleeve to and collars 29 and 22, respectively. Pins 42 and 42' are adapted to be positioned in these apertures for locking purposes. By utility of this structure, the side members 30 and 32, respectively, may be retained in a selected operative position. I

Starting with the condition shown in Figure 1 the pin 42 is removed and the tongue slid outwardly from the bar [6. This causes the collar 22 to be moved outwardly with respect to the collar 20 and pulls upon the link 24, the arm 28 and the side member 30, forcing the latter to pivot on the tie rod 18, spreading theside member 30 to the position shown in Figure 2. This movement of the side member is caused inasmuch as the collar 20 slides on the tongue away from the collar 22. To returnmth'e' side but a preferred form of the invention, it is ap parent that variations may be made without departingfromthe spirit of the invention. Ac-

member 30 to the position in Figure 1, the tongue 7 I0 is slid inwardly of the bar l6 and the pin 42' replaced.

Referring now again to Figure 2, it will be noted that banks or units of cultivator means are provided along said side members 30 and 32.

Any number of these banks may be utilized, it-

being left within the prerogative of the manufacturer and the dictates of sound engineering principles. Each of the said banks of cultivators are identical in the illustrated form of the invention.

A'pair of arms 44 and 46, respectively, are loosely pivoted to the said tie rod 18 by means of the eye bolt construction generally indicated at 48 (Figure 3). Similar arms are suspended from the tie rods 34 and 36. Extending across the said arms 44 and 46 is a plurality of shafts or tool bars 50 having cultivator tools 52 thereon. Each of the said shafts has an arm 56 extending therefrom connected to a common actuator rod 58. This actuator rod has a bar 50 pivotally associated therewith for actuation purposes.

Associated with the said bar It and the said tie rod I8 is means for actuating and locking the said cultivator banks. Going to Figure 5, it will be noted that a bifurcated bracket 62 is rigidly secured to the said bar I6. A gear 64 is rigidly secured to the said bracket 62 and a crank 65 extends therethrough. This crank is journaled in the said bracket 62 and has a handle or actuator member 68' loosely journaled thereon. Another gear !0 is rigidly secured to the said crank 66 and is of the ratchet type. A keeper or pawl 12 is pivoted to the said handle 63, while a small housing 14 is rigidly secured to the said handle 68. A pin, which may be resiliently biased, if so desired, is slidably received in the said housing. 14 and is generally indicated at it. t is further noted that an eye member i8 is provided at the terminal portion of the said handle 68 for 'the purpose of receiving a rope or equivalent actuation means 80 therethrough. The terminal portion of the said rope is secured to the said pin'TG. It is quite apparent that upon a single pull of the said rope 80, the pin 16 will be lifted from the teeth of the said gear 64, thereby releasing or unlocking the handle 68. Upon a further pull on the said rope 80, the ratchet gear will be rotated, thereby turning the crank 66 through the medium of the keeper 12. This of course turns the crank 66 and the said keeper T2 reacts as a stop for the said ratchet gear 10 when the handle 68 is in the locked position, as disclosed in Figure 6.

Pivoted to the terminal portions of the said crank 66 is a pair of links 8| having pivotal connection with each link 82 which is associated with the tie rod H! as well as the pitman rods 34 and 36 through the medium of pitman rods 84, 86 and 88, respectively. Secured to each of the said pitman rods 84, 86 and 88 is an actuator member, the said actuator member 60 having been described above. Of course, an equivalent cordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

I. A farm implement comprising a sleeve adapted to be secured to a prime mover, collars carried by said sleeve, links pivoted to said 001- lars, cultivator units secured to said links, means for adjusting said cultivator units, a bar slidably received in said sleeve, a tie rod on said bar, said adjusting means disposed on said tie and said bar and including ratchet mechanism, means for locking said ratchet mechanism in selected positions, a crank connected to said ratchet mechanism, arms secured to said crank for rocking the cultivators in said cultivator units in response to movement of said crank.

2. A farm implement comprising a sleeve adapted to be secured to a prime mover, collars carried by said sleeve, pairs of links pivoted to each collar, cultivator units carried by said links,

means for adjusting said cultivator units, abar slidably received in said sleeve and having said links carried thereby, a tie rod on said bar, said adjusting means positioned on said tie and said bar and including a ratchet gear, means for locking said ratchet gear in selected positions, a crank connected to said ratchet gear, arms secured to said crank for rocking the cultivators in said cultivator units in response to movement of said crank, said locking means including a gear secured to said bar, a handle journaled on said bar and secured to said ratchet gear, a pin associated with said handle engaging said gear, and means for lifting said pin and for actuating said handle.

3. A farm implement comprising a tongue, a bar extensibly carried by said tongue, a tie'rod fixed to said bar, side members pivoted to said tie rod, means including links pivotally supported by said tongue and said side members for spreading said side members in response to extensible movement of said bar and said tongue, cultivator units supported by said side members, means'on said bar and operatively connected with said units for simultaneously adjusting the cultivators therein including a ratchet mechanism carried by said bar, links drivingly connected with said ratchet mechanism and the cultivators, and means connected with said ratchet mechanism for operating said ratchet mechanism.

4. A farm implement comprising a tongue, a bar extensibly carried by said tongue, a tie rod fixed to said bar, side members pivoted to said tie rod, links including links pivotally supported by said tongue and said side members for spread ing said side members in response to extensible movement of said bar and said tongue, cultivator units supported by said side members, means on said bar and operatively connected with said units for simultaneously adjusting the cultivators therein including a ratchet mechanism carried by said bar, links drivingly connected with said ratchet mechanism and the cultivators, means connected with said ratchet mechanism for operating said ratchet mechanism including a handle having a keeper mounted thereon, said handle being attached to a part of said ratchet mechanism, and means for operating said handle and lifting said keeper.

5. A farm implement comprising a tongue, a bar extensibly carried by said tongue, a tie rod fixed to said bar, side members pivoted to said tie rod, collars slidably disposed on said tongue and having means to releasably hold said collars against sliding movement, links pivoted to said collars and said side members whereby when one of said collars is released for sliding movement and the other collar held fixed to said tongue, said links and said side members are spread upon extensible movement of said bar relative to said tongue, cultivator units carried by said side members, each of said units including a frame, tool bars mounted for rotation in said frame, and means carried by said tie rod and said bar for simultaneously operating said tool bars.

6. A farm implement comprising a tongue, a bar extensibly carried by said tongue, a tie rod fixed to said bar, side members pivoted to said tie rod, collars slidably disposed on said tongue and having means to releasably lock the collars against sliding movement, links pivoted to said collars and said side members whereby when one of the collars is released for sliding movement and the other collar locked to said tongue, said links and said side members are spread upon extensible movement of said bar relative to said tongue, and cultivator units carried by said side members, each of said units including a frame, tool bars mounted for rotation in said frame, and means carried by said tie rod and said bar for simultaneously operating said tool bars, and means carried by said bar for operating and locking said last mentioned means in selected positions.

7. In a farm implement, a tongue, a bar extensibly carried by said tongue, a tie rod secured to said bar, a side member pivoted to said tie rod, an arm secured to said side member, a first link pivoted to said arm, a second link pivoted to said arm, means slidably and pivotally mounting each link on said tongue, said means including a first and a second collar slidably disposed in said tongue with said links pivoted thereto, means connected with said collars and said tongue to releasably lock said collars on said tongue, and cultivator units secured to said side member with means on said bar and connected with said units for simultaneously actuating the cultivators in said units.

CHARLES R. BROOK.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Everett Apr. 12, 1938 Number 

